SINGAPORE: Singapore will monitor the impact of Malaysia’s move to reduce the Goods Vehicle Levy (GVL) at the Second Link while keeping the levy unchanged at the Causeway, says Singapore Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

“Meanwhile, our officials continue to engage on how to amend current tolls, with a view to ease the Causeway jam,” he said in his latest Facebook posting yesterday.

Khaw noted that easing the Causeway congestion was a continuing priority for him and his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

“We discussed this subject every time we met. The recent meeting in Beijing last week was no exception. We discussed several ideas on how to incentivise more commuters and goods

vehicles to use the Second Link instead of Causeway, and to do so during off-peak instead of peak-hours.

“We had a productive session,” he wrote.

Both Ministers were in Beijing for the inaugural Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Civil Aviation.

Khaw said Liow also gave him a heads up on Malaysia

cabinet’s decision to reduce the GVL at the Second Link from RM200 to RM50, while keeping the levy at RM200 unchanged at the Causeway.

“They have moved speedily and decisively on this idea. I read from the media reports of their decision to do so immediately. We welcome this decision of Malaysia.”

Khaw explained that the GVL is a Malaysian customs charge and it is not a toll.

“It is applied to all goods vehicles, regardless of nationality. There is no such equivalent at Singapore’s end. We do not impose any GVL,” he said.

Khaw ended his posting saying that: “The Malaysian officials are in town for the Singapore Airshow. Besides civil aviation matters, we will surely be busy with other transport matters too!”

Singapore Airshow, Asia’s Largest Aerospace and Defence event, will be held for six days from Feb 6 at Changi Exhibition Centre. — Bernama